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When trainee barrister Charles Chua comes face-to-face with migrants facing debt problems or needing immigration advice, he can find himself on unfamiliar ground.

"It can be nerve-wracking at times when a client is explaining their problem and you're not overly familiar with the law."

He's not paid for this – like many postgraduates, Chua, who is studying the bar professional training course at City University London, is a volunteer. He offers his expertise to a legal centre and a migrants' help centre. What he learns on his course, he puts into practice as a volunteer, and vice versa. And of course it's not the only reason he does it – volunteering will help him stand out when applying for jobs.

Thousands of students volunteer every year through their universities. Postgraduates, however, tend to launch themselves at some projects with greater gusto and focus than their undergraduate counterparts, says Joe Bourne who manages volunteering projects at Lancaster University.

"Postgraduates have worked out what they are really passionate about. Although they have a heavy workload, they seem to have more willingness to get involved in the local community."

Like many universities, Lancaster organises a choice of voluntary opportunities – from self-funded summer visits to work with NGOs in India, China, Ghana and elsewhere. Closer to home, community, recycling and the environment feature highly – not least the "edible campus" project, which relies on postgraduate dedication.

Master's graduate Paul Cambre, who used to run a small organic farm in Canada, now offers his expertise for up to 10 hours a week to help students get involved in growing their own food. Although he's interested in further research in sustainable agriculture, he is also keen for applied experience. "This experience will be indirectly relevant in my job hunt."

No doubt demanding postgraduate courses leave little time for extra-curricular work, but it's worth the effort, especially for career changes, says Adila Khan, careers adviser at Said Business School, University of Oxford.

"The benefits of volunteering are felt mostly by students moving to less traditional careers – venture capitalism and social impact in particular – where prior relevant experience is highly valued."